Since Ronny Deila became manager I’ve met a Norwegian journo a few times who has been keen to discuss our manager’s progress. One of the points he’s continually made is about Stefan Johansen, who he insists is known as a creative midfielder in Norway, someone who regularly makes defence-splitting passes.
Until recently, we’ve not seen this, Stefan has played as a box-to-box midfielder. Something changed against Hamilton Accies two weeks ago. Celtic were inept in many areas but Stefan seemed particularly exasperated at the lack of penetration. He ran and harried, pushed and prodded. It was as though the general malaise around him afforded him the authority to take control of the situation.
Late in the game against Accies he bent double with his hands on his knees, the outward sign of exhaustion anyone over 40 who’s played fives is familiar with, but which you seldom see from professionals, as it’s a sign your batteries are empty. When fans see this in a player the natural reaction is to berate him but Stefan’s knees deserved to be held, he’d put more effort in over the 90 minutes than anyone I’d seen all season.
Saturday’s performance from Celtic seemed to come from nowhere; suddenly we looked like a team. Stefan’s newly acquired authority, which I think he acquired two weeks earlier, goes some way towards explaining why.
I’m loving the love being shown to the glib and shameless one today, especially the accompanying commentary, “are you a fan who is staying away from Rangers matches?”, “this Rangers support is already dangerously close to a full-scale rebellion”. Framing the debate like this is an explicit call to Newco Rangers fans to ditch their hard-up club.
I would like to echo this sentiment. Go find another sport, or take up a higher education class instead.
That’s easy for me to say, I care nothing for Newco, but at least I’m being honest about it. There are those prepared to drive the club into the Clyde in their attempts to grab control on the cheap – i.e. instead of buying shares on the open market.
Good luck to them. I’m sure Mike Ashley and the Easdales will be easily bullied.
[calameo code=0003901718cdc4362fa2e? lang=en page=122 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
704 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- ...
- 19
- »
“Right, I’ve had enough of this sunshine in Grenada”
Cowiebhoy, whit??? How long ye been there? Ye kept that one quiet!!??;)
Spot on with your other point. The more 50quid books the better. Get them into the footy as young as possible.
jimmynotpaul
that very matter is referenced in the annual report this year.
Obloquy dictionary definition | obloquy defined http://www.yourdictionary.com/obloquy Obloquy is verbal abuse, or disgrace resulting from abuse. An example of obloquy is telling lies about a respected teacher.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm :)))
SB holder but also can’t get to all games due to family and travel commits…..and the f….. …….1 o’clock kick offs…
Jamesgang @1743
Pmsl!!!
I think you are onto something neebs.
I’ve thought for a while now that RC is actually HT in disguise and kev j & Darwins are Lawwell plants :)
Till later all
Connaire
In no way was I including anyone from CQN in my reasoning, it was purely based on a couple of people whom I’ve spoken to.
I hope you’re recovering speedily sir and Parkhead will see your likes soon.
BontyBhoy
I’m very sorry you thought I was parodying you, I really wasn’t.
I really don’t know how you arrived at that conclusion, in my reply and I’d rather you desist from the playground ya boo sucks name calling aimed at my cyber moniker.
Perhaps you post so infrequently under BontyBhoy, because you misinterpret things, then get yourself in a fankle?
Anyway, take care I’m really sorry I upset you, as I’m not known for doing that on CQN.
Hail Hail
Londonderry?!
Where the feck is that?!
HH!!
TBB
i have no objection to the 50 quid ticket. I dont think the club started the 50 quid ticket by choice, they were forced into it when sales fell. A bit like the current 2 for 1 offer for some games.
Unfortunately i dont have all night, but to summarise quickly IMO the number of SBs has fallen along with our ambition. I see no reason to think the demise will stop. The downsizing spiral is well out of control now and it would take much much more than the odd 5 million quid signing to stop it.
It would take something like a new league (not a new scottish league either!) to make a change.
i cant think of many other businesses where the chairman could oversee a 30 percent drop in the number of “customers” and still be seen as successful. I wonder at what point will the drop in numbers be seen as a failure? 30,000?
I reckon we are heading towards that number. While some fans might return to see sevco, i predict it will be a small number and a temporary upwards blip in a general trend of falling numbers
i guess as long as we keep selling our best players, it will pay for the empty seats. Maybe we should have tried to keep a few of them and at the same time keep a few bums on seats
Folks are always saying on here “aye but what if we signed top players and it didnt work out” I guess thats one way to look at it, but it doesnt seem to be working out nowadays either does it? howabout if we signed a few quality players and it did work out?
Spending what we earn is fine as long as we continually increase the amount we earn
Spending what we earn, while we earn less and less is not so appealing
Jamesgang
Wanna buy a fridge? :-)
TBB
Very, very funny.
Rumor is that it was a Celtic player involved.
Tamrabam
Wouldn’t disagree with much of that. Your observation on ambition is a good one.
Cheers
Hamiltontim
17:51 on 20 October, 2014
Jamesgang
Wanna buy a fridge? :-)
TBB
Very, very funny.
———————————–
Watch out for those violent fridges…
Lest we forget…
http://quaer0.wordpress.com/2013/11/11/hypocrisy-that-knows-no-bounds/
gearoid1998
17:33 on
20 October, 2014
Two guys I know,came over on the ferry from Scotland during the early Troubles. They were heading for Gaoth Dobhair. They were stopped on Glenshane Pass by the UDR. On being asked where they were going to, one replied “Derry.”
“Oh you mean Londonderry.” said the soldier “where are you from?”
“Londonhamilton” was the reply.
They were still on Glenshane Pass an hour later.
JohnBullsotherislandCSC
Re the 1pm Sunday kick offs.
I was told on Saturday that Celtic did indeed consult with supporters.
A heid bummer associated with the supporters replied that he’d need a week to contact the different supporter’s groups and compile their replies.
He was told he had one day.
You know the rest.
bournesouprecipe
It’s the myriad of name changes and personality disorders I can’t keep up with, it’s an Olympic event in itself, it’s got to the stage where I can’t tell my Bootsie from my Snudge, ma Francie fae ma Josie, whit a to do!
‘Ooh, Mister Smudge, you’re all luvly an’ ‘orrible’.
TBB.
Thanks for that, I’m been serious here, it’s that kind of information that makes me love this blog.
Jamesgang.
Good stuff. Made me laugh about H.T. re scam.
davidopoulos
Oops, sorry mate I should have been more thoughtful!
BontyBhoy
For what’s it’s worth I thought BSR was actually echoing you own point.
HT
Want to buy a fridge?
Sound ominous!
Like swimming with da fishes!!
;-)
HH jamesgang
Jamesgang
I’m a bouncer….remember :-)
Houl yer wheest@17.56
With the UDR they were lucky they were only held for an hour and not found at the side of the Glenshane.
HH HYW
Scart thought………… CQN
UberFacts @UberFacts
One out of every 10 men are psychopaths… and they look just like everyone else.
Good evening friends.
The Battered Bunnet et al
TBB, you have had an extensive look over the piece, re both season tickets and also the contribution to Scottish football from the various broadcasting authorities. Am I right in supposing that Celtic FC, absent any SPFL television money, but playing all league games at 3pm on a Saturday, could and indeed would generate more income than we do under the current “deals” with Sky, BT, and BBC “Scotland”?
Gearoid 1998 – not everything in Glenshane is tainted. Know two great families at the head of the Pass who would not entertain the UDR.
My friends in Celtic,
I remember there used to be a poster on here called “the cyclist” or similar. We had some discussion and banter about cheating in football and the merits of cycling. We then “spoke” about the international race for the best pharmacists (allegedly ), commonly known as the Tour de France.
.
I am just back in suffering from shock at the antics of our two wheeled terrors, if he is still lurking I would like to ask him :-
Why are cyclists colour-blind and struggle to distinguish between red and green.?
Why do normal people turn into cycle-paths when they don the lycra. ?
Why do cyclists sensibly wear half melons as headgear, then have no lights on when it is dark.?
.
I am not “peddling” a load of nonsense, any road user will “wheel” out the same concerns and complaints.
Seriously some irresponsible cyclists are a danger to themselves and others on our main roads and I speak as a cyclist myself.
Exercise bikes for the winter, you know it makes sense.
HH and apologies for the rant
From Twitter may be rubbish
Baile Udain Ruadh @MHossack 21m21 minutes ago
I hope the Dons player who was drinking in Ashton Lane last night got home safely with his other two footballing friends.
hamiltontim:
Big games including the Huns…aye right, they are not big games, perhaps one upon a time!
I continue to buy my ST as you know. I continue to go along to CP and will do so until there is not a breath left. I go as I support Celtic. However, it has been hard to go along of late because of what I am watching. Yes, lack of competition is definitely a contributing factor and personality believe that has an impact on the playing Personnel bit consciously and sub-consciously; how many Players say, who we got next Hamilton, that’s a gimme. The reasons I believe contribute to Fans staying away.
I have posted before my friend that we should be killing Teams off, whether they be Ross County, Hamilton, Barca, Juventus. We should treat every Team with respect, not just the so called big Clubs and I don’t count the Huns as a big Club as they do not exist.
I have to confess that I do not go to as many away games as I once did. Apathy, poor product on the pitch, our Board’s behaviour towards our Fans and even for me the cost of an away day (ticket, transport and of course bevy) put me off. I am envious of good folk like your good self that go home and away (except if Ant & Dec are in town)…:)
If we were producing a better product on the pitch I would make more of an effort I would more than double my football expenditure. I live in ML5, I shudder to think what it costs my fellow supporters further afield e.g England, Wales and of course the Emerald Isle. I hate myself for this admission of willfully choosing not to go to away games, makes me feel a fair weather supporter, when deep down I know I am not. I hate myself for thinking I have done my bit, especially away games and let somebody else take over the mantel.
Continue doing what your doing my friend.
Up the Rebels.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
cowiebhoy
17:30 on 20 October, 2014
Incidentally, the more £50 season tickets sold, the better, get our kids etc following the Celtic the earlier the better, the next generation of Green Brigadiers
Hail Hail
_______
Out of all of the posts today, your post really caught my eye.
It’s time to look forward and get the youngsters to attend the games, why have a stadium half empty?
Us auldhieds remember the days we got lifted over and it wasn’t that long ago I took my kids and doubled up going in.
The kids are the future and times are hard for a lot.
Celtic…open the doors and let the people sing!
Connaire12@18.29
That was in no way intended as a “dig” at the good people of Glenshane/South Derry. It was a reflection of the way the Bhoys from Glasgow could have expected to be treated by our much beloved “security forces” and the indigenous branch in particular a la Miami Showband.
Our wee bus has 16 members.
3 of those members start their working week on a Sunday therefore are ruled out attending Sunday games .They do renew every yeR knowing this will be the case.
More worryingly, we normally were able to get their 3 tickets passed onto others. The last 2 years their seats have normally been empty.
Now I’m not a great lover of the PLC but credit where credit is due , the £50 kids ticket is fantastic as Burghbhoy junior will testify to.
2 young bhoys on our bus have graduated to full ST holders after taking advantage of discounted youth tickets in the last couple of years.
Having seen how they can bevvy and sing they have defo got the Celtic bug!!!
HH
hamiltontim
Got to go to a RCIA meeting, just in case you reply mate and I don’t but will look in later.
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
So far it seems that Lukasz Zaluska was attacked by a player from Hamilton, St Mirren, Dundee United or maybe Aberdeen.
Got to love internet rumours.
I can’t speak on the season book debate since I don’t have one (live in Norway) and have attended CP only once this season (same reason plus having a daughter in Yorkshire means any weekend I can, I get down there to spend it with her).
But I try to make it to every game I can in the bar where the Norway CSC meet and have a deal to show the games.
Attendances at these games have been dwindling to the point where recently ONE supporter turned up for a game, and the CSC organiser had to put out a round-robin text telling us that if more of us didn’t show up, the bar would put the Celtic games on a tiny screen in the corner or stop showing them altogether.
Two years ago we were getting a good 20-30 people for every single game.
There’s been a good response in the past couple of weeks but the malaise over here seems to be a mirror of what’s happening at Paradise.
It breaks my heart to see the top tier closed, really breaks my heart, like it breaks my heart to see 4 of us sitting in the pub here watching the game while 20 people on the left are watching Everton and 20 on the right are cheering Arsenal.
I don’t know what the problem is. I know the obvious answer is no Huns, but I would say that not one single Tim over here, not one, has said to me that they want the Huns back. Quite the opposite.
Everybody I talk to over here never wants to see any manifestation of that poisonous, vile entity take the field against us again. Ever. Me too.
And it’s not as if an economy in recession can be blamed over here.
Just my opinion this, but if Ronny has turned the corner as I fervently hope he has, and we put on a few more shows like Saturday we will see the seats in CP (and the bar in Oslo) being refilled pronto.
To rephrase the Bunnet: “Build a team and they will come.”
Sir Paul
Well.. Well..Well… Pal.
A Yes.. A Yes… n an “Oh Aye!”,,, Tae.
Yes, INDEEDLEEE….
Steffi, Made the difference..
Ah Agree..wi Thee!
Jist like Ah Said..in a recent Submission…
Steffi, Is a Stand up Guy.. the kind that Kojo..is Crying oot fur..
A guy.. Who Wull Tak the Game by the Scruff o the neck..n Mak Things Happen.
n.. He sure Did .. didn’t He?..in the Hamilton Game.
Like Ah said.. before…
Steffi,is NO…. A Shirker..
Like that Ledley Guy..or that.. Commons Guy.. or that… MOLONEY ,fellow..
or that… Bitton Fellah..
Oh.. .. Kayal..is No A Shirker.. Not He.
but.. He disnae Hiv Fitba talent.. which is a wee bit of a Draw back..( Especially..if Ye ur a Fitba’ Player!..)
Broonie,of Course..is No Shirker, eethur..
Howevahhhhhhhhhhhh…
He Disnae Hae the Intellect tae Go Along wi’ it.. So.. He jist
Flatters tae Deceive.
Steffi… He is Ma kinda Guy.
Yes,,Pal..
You n Me are Pinkety ,Pinkey,oan this Yin.. Aweright~
We need.. Nine Mair Guys like Steffi…( Gordon.. He is a real Stand up Guy..tae)
in this Team.
Wi the Same type of Attitude.
As Ah hiv Bin Sayin Fur Years..n Years..n Years.
“It’s Awe Aboot … HIVING THE RIGHT ATTITUDE.”.. n,, By Jings..Steffi, his goat it~
in Spades, Clubs..Diamonds,,, But Maistly.. In HEART!
Kojo
Still,Laughin.
Who.. Showed us Whit he hiz goat.
n He hiz goat Plenty.
As well as £50 ticket.
Another great initiative is the student discount season ticket.
My son gets half his season ticket money back, once he provides evidence that he has enrolled at university again. This year that amounted to a very tidy some of £280.